Grace relaxes and takes a deep breath. “Good. I really want things to work out between you two.”
I smile. “Thanks, that means a lot. Let’s talk about something else, though.”
“I need to know what games we plan on going to this year so I can put in my requests to have off now,” Peyton tells us.
“All of the home games for sure,” Grace says.
Shit, am I supposed to know all of this? Am I a bad girlfriend because I don’t even know when the first game is? I never paid much attention to Clay’s schedule. I would go to a game here and there, but I never liked the attention I received by being his sister.
Being Kellan’s girlfriend is only going to make it worse.
“I don’t even know what the schedule looks like,” I admit, feeling awful.
Grace smiles softly. “I love that you don’t know that.”
“Why?”
“Because that means that you don’t care about what he can do on the ice but about him,” she tells me.
Before I can say anything, Peyton cuts in. “Yes, enough about Kellan Cooper. Games and schedules, ladies. Someone pull it up so we can figure this shit out before I go to work later.”
Chuckling, Grace reaches into her bag and pulls out a tablet. She taps the screen a few times before setting it in the middle of the table for all of us to see. Peyton grabs her phone and starts tapping away, presumably writing down all the dates of the home games.
“I want to go to this one. It’s only a two-hour drive, and they have a cute year-round Christmas market in the next town over. I figured if we leave early, we can go spend some money and get a head start on Christmas presents. Plus, I need decorations for the house,” Grace tells us.
“Are you going to set up a Christmas tree at the hockey house and cover the banister with garland?” I tease.
“Of course,” Grace deadpans.
I can’t quite tell if she’s joking or if she’s serious, but I don’t question it.
Peyton touches the screen. “We went to this one last year, right?”
“We did,” Grace confirms.
“We should go again. That game was awesome, and they had some hot guys in attendance that I wouldn’t mind flirting with.”
“Only flirting?” I quip.
“Only flirting. The last thing I need is a long-distance relationship.” Peyton shivers at the thought, making Grace and I laugh.
Before any of us can say something, someone comes up to our table and leans against the edge. I turn to face the intruder and see Monica.
Great. Just fucking great.
“Monica,” I say with zero emotion.
Monica’s eyes narrow. “You don’t know how to listen, do you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say calmly.
“I told you that you should ditch him before he can leave you, and yet here you are sitting with his side piece,” she says, waving toward Grace.
“Excuse me?” Grace gasps.
“Whoa, bitch, you better back off,” Peyton growls.
“First off, Grace is his friend and only his friend,” I tell her bluntly. “As for why I’m sitting here with her, not that it’s any of your business, but Grace is dating my brother and has been for a year. You know him, I’m sure. Clayton James,” I say, dropping his name.
